British Petroleum - Transformational Leadership in a Transnational Organization

Extract

[...] Actually, BP is a transnational corporation, whose operations are too various for only one leadership style. To try to manage this vast diversity by forcing everyone to use an identical approach, is what generates most of the conflicts in the economic world. Horton's leadership style worked perfectly in the United States, and allowed him to build a good image, whereby he was regarded as a model to follow. But his leadership style is not universally effective, which is it flopped in England. [...]

[...] Differences Various management styles: Today, in organizations such as BP, a person who has leadership is one who is able to help others to understand the direction of the events, to give objectives and to make decisions which take account of morality and ecological concerns (especially in the oil sector). Horton and Simon were central actors in the construction of the working conditions and in the efficiency of the company. It was a question of directing, of finding the right tone, of making economic choices, of laying down objectives and of evaluating performances by using an adapted leadership style. [...]

[...] At the same time by social responsibility and to guarantee its permanence, the company invests for a few years in solar energy. The choice of the slogan of the company BP, “Beyond Petroleum”, would be due to the imminence of oil peak. Observations The comprehension of the human development explains the importance of the leadership. All the levels of the values and systems of beliefs exist in each country and each area as subcultures, and define the differences in all the fields of the life, from religion to sport, while passing by the political affiliations, the businesses or the life styles. [...]

[...] Both are well liked by the employees, thanks to their participative leadership. The differences between Emma and Simon are in the area of emotion. In fact, Emma is a very emotional manager though she was able to hide her feelings when people were attacking and criticizing her. In the other hand, Simon, thanks to his strong personality, keeps his spirits up. Authoritarian (autocratic): Steve Job and Horton Job and Horton have an authoritarian leadership style based on control and authority. Both are charismatic leaders. [...]

[...] But a leader does not act alone in his corner, and leadership cannot be reduced to a simple question of personality. Leaders learn and build their leadership, acquire knowledge which is explicit and implicit in action. Our Western contemporary values thus have a great part in intelligence and appearances. Thus, Simon being a graduate and a polyglot, is introduced like one possessing the prerogative of a great leader. In the same way, Horton is also a graduate and has the profile of a leader. [...]